Life 2.1

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine from high school, whose music I have always enjoyed, told me his bad was releasing a new album and asked if I would take a listen.

Flattered, I received an email with the latest releases from Uncle Daddy and a little while later and began listening to the new album Psalms Before The Storm. I have played the handful of songs over and over again, determining my favorites. Bless his heart, he told me it was ok if I didn’t like it, though I knew that wouldn’t be the case. I know Noah to be a heart-felt musician, putting all of himself into his music and no doubt he wouldn’t align himself with bandmates that wouldn’t do the same.

Now, let’s be clear. I’m no music critic. I just know what I like. And I really like their first single ‘Fade Away’ which I’m sharing here:

Again, I don’t even know music terms that well but the baseline/intro pulls me and I knew I would like this song from the get go. The guitar-that-builds-to-drums-that opens up into the rest of the instruments coming in to contribute to the sound immediately had me keeping the beat right along. It may sound cheesy, but it’s the type of song that grabs you in the pit of your stomach from the onset and like a home-cooked meal, sticks to your ribs and makes you feel good.

I’m a fan.

Of course, I’m always a sucker for a poignant ballad-y tune so the track ‘Beautiful’ is lovely. The lyrics make me pause and I always love a song that can come up with new ways to describe a person’s admiration for the object of their affection….even more so when the song lyrics recognize the qualities that anyone else might overlook that make the person more endearing to the other.

“She’s beautiful like sunrise but she…she burns like moonshine and I’m feeling just fine, anyway;
She’s soothes like a sunset but she’ll turn your eyes blood red…”

For fun, Noah sent me a download of a Katy Perry cover “E.T.” which is an extremely unique rendition. I almost didn’t recognize it, it was such a departure from the original, but with familiar lyrics.

Over all, I continue to enjoy Noah’s music and the soul that is put into the album. I like the mix of the soulful guitar and deep, resonating baselines. Check out more of their music online at GoUncleDaddy.com and let him know what you think, but I think it’s to be enjoyed, especially because the passion that he and the rest of his bandmates have shines through and how can you not respect the efforts of someone following their passion?

No Comments | In: CL's new beats, Social Adventures | tags: guitar, Music, Noah Needleman, Uncle Daddy. | #

when you give it your all
and still come up shy
you can’t get it right
no matter how hard you try
when the tears wanna fall
like rain from the sky
well you can count on my Love
you can count on my Love.

when the door seems to slam
and you’re left outside
and your so-called friends
done made a mess of your pride
you don’t know what to do
cause you can’t decide
well you can count on my Love
you can count on my Love.

count on my Love
it aint goin’ nowhere
it’ll always listen
it’ll always care
count on my Love
if it’s the last thing you do
my Love is patient, forgiving,
and true…

when the smoke clears
and you’re standing all alone
and they all fail to notice
the courage you’ve shown
when you still feel small
even though you’ve grown
well you can count on my Love
you can count on my Love

No Comments | In: CL's new beats | tags: acoustic guitar, Music, singer/songwriter, Tony Lucca. | #

This is currently being played on my computer with quite a bit of frequency. When I lived in San Diego, I would often drive up to Los Angeles/Hollywood and watch Tony Lucca (and others) perform…it was definitely nice having so many options for music in small venues in SoCal.

Also, if anyone can tell me how to save a youtube video to a computer so I can then extract the audio and put it on my iPod, that’d be swell.

PS- Happy first day of hurricane season.

1 Comment | In: CL's new beats | tags: acoustic, piano, song, Tony Lucca. | #

I have been known to blast this song very loudly in my car the past few weeks:

Jill Scott – Hate On Me

The Song: Hate On Me
The Artist: Jill Scott
The Album: The Real Thing
The Lyrics:

If I could give you the world
On a silver platter
Would it even matter?
You’d still be mad at me

If I could find in all this
A dozen roses
Which I would give to you
You’d still be miserable

In reality, I’m gonna be who I be
And I don’t feel no faults
For all the lies that you bought
You can try as you may
Break me down but I say
That it ain’t up to you
Gone and do what you do

CHORUS
Hate on me, hater
Now or later
‘Coz I’m gonna do me
You’ll be mad, baby
Go ‘head and hate
Go ‘head and hate on me, hate on
‘Coz I’m not afraid of it
What I got I paid for
You can hate on me

Ooh, if I gave you peaches
Out of my own garden
And I made you a peach pie
Would you slap me high

What if I gave you diamonds
Out of my own womb
Would you feel the love in that,
Or ask “why not the moon”?

If I gave you sanity
For the whole of humanity,
Had all the solutions
For the pain and pollution

No matter where I live,
Despite the things I give,
You’ll always be this way
So go ‘head and….

Hate on me, hater
Now or later
‘Coz I’m gonna do me
You’ll be mad, baby
Go ‘head and hate
Go ‘head and hate on me, hate on
‘Coz I’m not afraid of it
What I got I paid for
You can hate on me

You cannot hate on me
‘Cuz my mind is free
Feel my destiny
So shall it be

You cannot hate on me
‘Cuz my mind is free
Feel my destiny
So shall it be

Hate on me, hater
Now or later
‘Coz I’m gonna do me
You’ll be mad, baby
Go ‘head and hate
Go ‘head and hate on me, hate on
‘Coz I’m not afraid of it
What I got I paid for
You can hate on me

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No Comments | In: CL's new beats | tags: Hate On Me, Jill Scott. | #

I have to say that ever since I joined Facebook in July, I have re-connected with so many lost friends. Despite not keeping in good touch with them through the years, FB has served to at least reintroduce me to what’s going on in my friends’ lives. I’m also please to say that due to FB, I’m pretty sure that if we wanted to have a reunion of Mrs. Reynolds 6th grade class, I could do so via FB and have a pretty good turnout, I think.

At any rate, I was perusing FB on Saturday night (post-thunder and lightning storm, there was no way I was going anywhere that night–it had been raining for like, 5 hours straight!) and I received an IM from one Noah Needleman, who happens to be a friend from my high school days. While we weren’t uber close in HS, we had many mutual friends so naturally, our paths crossed and I remember him being able to play the guitar. For those of you playing at home, I heart the guitar. And the piano. I wish I knew how to play either/both alas, I hated piano lessons because my teacher made me cut my nails (aka talons, as Ted calls them) in order to avoid a certain clacking sound that should have only been a tickle on the ivories. But I digress.

So I get an IM from Noah and I find out he is in LA (not the boot LA but rather Los Angeles) doing his music thing. I asked to hear some of his music and whilst IMing, I listen. And am immediately blown away.

So talented!

I should have known it all along but I hadn’t ever heard his music before, save maybe a choir concert at Napa High once or twice. I’m totally diggin’ his music. I love that he plays the clubs in LA that I used to frequent when I lived in San Diego. On a random night of the week when I just wanted to have an adventure, I’d hop in the car and head to The Mint or Hotel Cafe, just to discover a new musician. At a place where I could have a beer with him or her afterwards if I wanted to. And now Noah is that guy.

I definitely suggest checking out his music and listening to a few tracks. I really enjoyed the songs he has posted on his site

They are going to be on his upcoming EP (his second!)

In the mean time, I loved Noah’s arrangement of Pure Imagination (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory..you know the one) so I’m sharing it here.

He also has some songs on iTunes, which makes him extra fancy, and he’s a great lyricist.

Noah Needleman – Somewhere Between 

I’m bummed I missed out on his talent in high school and grateful he took a moment to shoot me a note last night. I really enjoyed catching up with him.

Noah and I chatted for at least an hour and he also turned me on to another artist, Caitlin Alise and I’m also in LOVE with her sound. Especially her songs October and Damages Unseen. I recommend them.

Caitlin Alise – Unseen Damage

Caitlin Alise – October

All of this couldn’t have come at a better time, as I was in the market for some new sounds on my iPod. Great additions and seriously hoping Noah and Caitlin come out to my LA to perform soon.

1 Comment | In: CL's new beats | tags: acoustic, Caitlin Alise, Music, Noah Needleman. | #